Language technology for eLearning

Abstract

Given the huge amount of static and dynamic contents created for eLearning tasks, the major challenge for their wide use is to improve their retrieval and accessibility within Learning Management Systems. This paper describes the LT4eL project which addresses this challenge by proposing Language Technology based functionalities to support semi-automatic metadata generation for the description of the learning objects, on the basis of a linguistic analysis of the content. Se- mantic knowledge will be integrated to enhance the management, distribution and retrieval of the learning material. We will employ ontologies, key elements in the architecture of the Semantic Web initiative, to structure the learning material within Learning Management Systems, by means of the descriptive metadata. We will also explore the use of Latent Semantic Indexing techniques for the matching of the learning objects with the user information requirements.